Best Car Bike Rack

The Allen Sports Deluxe 4-Bike Mount Rack is our top pick for being the best car bike rack for storing your bicycles. It has a 2 inch receiver and is a sturdy rack for up to 4 bikes. It is also compatible for 2 inch trailer hitch. The hitch must be a class III or IV and can be easily set up within 5 minutes. With a durable construction made from steel and coated in black powdered finish, the carry arms have a length of 22 inches and it has a patented tie down system to secure the bicycles individually. This car bike rack is under a lifetime warranty

The Swagman XTC Cross-Country 2-Bike Rack is our step-up pick which can fit hitch receivers with sizes of 2 in and 1.25 in. It comes with a device that prevents wobbling and it can carry up to 2 bikes. It is able to take up to 35 lbs per bike and there are folding down center arms to make the rear of the vehicle accessible without rack removing. It keeps the bike in place because of its frame friendly and soft grip arms and the the bikes it can hold are typically 20 to 29 inch wheels. All in all, it is great hitch mounted car bike rack that is platform style.

The Allen Sports Deluxe 2-Bike Mount Rack which is our budget pick, can fit up to 2 bikes. It is a fully assembled trunk mount and can fit a lot of vehicle types, such as SUVs, mini-vans, hatchbacks and sedans. It includes tie-down mechanisms and has a frustration-free packaging for shipping. It comes with a padded lower frame that puts distance between the vehicle and the bicycles and the side straps add to the stability of the car bike rack.

A Little Background

A car bike rack is a very innovative piece of storage material that helps a bike to be carried and mounted through any vehicle, be it an SUV, sedan, hatchback, minivan or even trucks and carry the bike to any place. To be able to get the bike to any place, you will need a mechanism known as the car bike rack.
The car bike rack is not just your ordinary bike rack – it has safe and secure features that will hold the bike or many bikes and keep them in place. Some can hold 2 bikes at once but some can hold 3 or more, depending on the size, shape and weight of the bikes. Perfect for travel purposes, camping, trekking and other purposes, carrying a bike through a car bike rack is a very helpful and versatile and also quite convenient to any person who owns a bike or two.

How We Picked

When we chose the best car bike rack, we considered the following criteria:
Is the car bike rack durable? The bike rack must be able to withstand the test of time and make sure that it stays in place in the vehicle. The car bike rack must be durable but also lightweight as a convenient car bike rack that can be used for a variety of ways, for different vehicles and so on.
What are the special features of the car bike rack? The bike rack must be able to have unique features especially when it pertains to security, safety, anti-wobbling, durability and many others. Some also have special locks that keep the car bike rack in its place without much hassle and some are easily stored because of their easy fold mechanism, so you have to pick the car bike rack that is more accommodating for your needs for the certain bikes you own.
How many bikes can it accommodate? The number of bikes any car bike rack can accommodate is very important because it depends on how many bikes you will put in it. For instance, some car bike racks can accommodate only 2, but some can take as much as 3, 4 or 5 bikes all at once. You have to remember the max weight capacity as well, other than the individual bikes you can put in there.
Is it well worth for the price? The car bike rack must be just right for its price so it is best to compare and contrast between various car bike racks existing in the market. Make sure that the car bike rack is just the right price for its features.
How about the user reviews for the car bike rack? The car bike rack should have more pros than cons and the disadvantages should not be unsettling enough to break the deal. The car bike rack should have a lot of big advantages and help the bike travel and be transported into the desired destination without much hassle depending on its type and features.
What is the maximum weight capacity? You must also know the weight limit of the car bike rack so that you can know how much weight of bikes you can fit on it. The number of bikes you can fit should also be considered as well as the max weight limit.
Can it fit a lot of vehicle types, including ones with spoilers? Most bike owners are concerned whether car bike racks can fit on spoilers, but they can, depending on its design. In fact, many different types of vehicles can benefit from a car bike rack, provided that they have the right trailer hitch installed.
Is it easy to fold and store when not in use? A car bike rack that is very convenient to fold, store and unfold again is worth buying because it makes owning a bike hassle-free and can be useful if you often travel with your bike.
Does it have a set of secure tie down arms and locking system that keeps the bike in place and prevent wobbling of the bike while riding the vehicle? Make sure that the car bike rack is able to tie down the bike(s) you own so that it will not wobble and make unnecessary noise when you travel with your bike down the road and so it will stay in place even after a long journey.

Our Pick

Allen Sports Deluxe 4-Bike Mount Rack
Our best car bike rack is the Allen Sports Deluxe 4-Bike Mount Rack which has a 2 inch receiver and a sturdy rack for up to 4 bikes, which makes it super versatile because it can accommodate so many bikes all at once. Being compatible for 2 inch trailer hitch, it is a great car bike rack to consider for its price and features all in all.
For this car bike rack, the hitch must be a class III or IV and it can be easily set up within 5 minutes so it is a very hassle-free car bike rack to consider for its value. In addition, the car bike rack’s durable construction made from steel and coated in black powdered finish allowing it to stay sturdy and rust-free without much worrying and with proper maintenance.
Its carry arms have a length of 22 inches so it is quite good with its size and capability of making the bike you own well protected as you go on the road without having to worry about the bike flying out of its place, keeping it secured and safe. In addition, this car bike rack has a patented tie down system to secure the bicycles individually, making it a very convenient car bike rack used typically for sports.
Having an under a lifetime warranty, the Allen Sports Deluxe is a great car bike rack. The lanyards are attached to the retainer clips and in addition, the bike rack’s arms have a folding carry design. It gives easy access to the lift gate because of its main mast that has a tilt-away design so it is a very convenient bike rack for just about any car or vehicle possible.
Its installation on the hitch has no wobble at all and all you need to assemble the hitch car bike rack are 3 bolts. Truly, this car bike rack is a very convenient product and its easy installation helps save time in travel and on the effort of carrying the bike(s).
The Allen Sports Bike Rack is available in red or black color finish and it has a very decent price. It is easy to stack 4 bikes in one go with this amazing sports bike rack and generally, it makes bikes accessible without having to remove the bike rack. Made from high quality material, this 4-Bike Mount Rack has a weight capacity of 140 lbs and it has a good price. It has overall dimensions of 25 in x 16 in x 3 in and it weighs 23.9 lbs.

Who Else Likes It?

It is easy to assemble and it is a great 4 bike rack overall. It is easy to fold down when removing and is not so complicated with the bolts. Generally, it is ideal for camping.

Flaws but Not Dealbrakers

The only concern for the Allen Sports Bike Rack is that it might produce minor noise while traveling, but can be fixed with a bungee cord. All in all, it is a great car bike rack that helps keep the bike(s) secured.

Step-up Pick

Swagman XTC Cross-Country 2-Bike Rack
The well-prized Swagman XTC Cross-Country 2-Bike Rack is our step-up pick can fit hitch receivers with sizes of 2 in and 1.25 in as it comes with an device that prevents wobbling to give you a very smooth traveling experience, especially if you own two bikes.
As said earlier, it can carry up to 2 bikes and it is able to take up to 35 lbs per bike, so it is handy and sturdy for those who want more than just one bike to carry but two as well. In addition, the Swagman Rack has a folding down center arms to make the rear of the vehicle accessible without rack removing and it keeps the bike in place because of its frame friendly and soft grip arms.
When you purchase this bike rack, keep in mind that the bikes it can hold are typically 20 to 29 inch wheels. One more thing to consider about this bike rack is that it is great hitch mounted car bike rack that is platform style. It measures overall 6 in x 40 in x 11 in dimensions and it weighs 32.8 lbs. The good side here is that it folds up vertically
In addition to that, the frame is protected with hooks that have soft coating and the car bike rack has great features – the hooks for the bike help to secure the bikes by grabbing onto its frame. Other neat features of the Swagman 2-Bike Rack include the fact that the rubber straps are included when securing the bike wheels into the wheel hoops. And in addition, the wheel hoops are highly adjustable so that it can fit any bike length.
To avoid rusting and corrosion, the car bike rack is given a powder coated finish and you can also separately purchase trays for fat bike tires. The easy storage is achieved by folding up the wheel loops and folding down the upright arm and added to that, the hooks are ratcheting and can easily slide up and down with a button push.
The Swagman XTC Rack can be installed with a 10 mm security cable, sold separately, as well as a locking hitch pin. Being colored in blue coat finish, it is under a lifetime warranty.

Budget Pick

Allen Sports Deluxe 2-Bike Mount Rack
For our budget pick, we picked a car bike that can fit up to 2 bikes and is a fully assembled trunk mount – the Allen Sports Deluxe 2-Bike Mount Rack. It surprisingly can fit a lot of vehicle types, such as SUVs, mini-vans, hatchbacks and sedans, making it a truly versatile car bike rack which includes tie-down mechanisms to help it protect your bike(s).
The Allen Sports Rack has a frustration-free packaging for shipping and in addition, it comes with a padded lower frame that puts distance between the vehicle and the bicycles. Adding to that, its side straps add to the stability of the car bike rack. With this frustration-free bike rack, it weighs 7.5 lbs and has overall dimensions of 23 in x 13 in x 4 in with an easy setup within seconds.
One more thing to note about the Allen Sports Mount Rack has a patented and useful tie down system and it also comes with carry arms that are a narrow set and can fit most bicycle sizes and styles. The great thing to note about the car bike rack is that the stability of the car bike rack is backed by side straps, making it versatile as a bike mount rack.
In addition, the 2-Bike Mount Rack can work on cars with spoilers depending on the size and position of the spoiler and it is also very heavy duty and high quality car bike rack components built to a rugged style. All in all, it offers a lifetime warranty.

Car Bike Rack that Comes with a Hitch Lock

TYGER 3-Bike Rack with Hitch Lock
The TYGER 3-Bike Rack with Hitch Lock is a great car bike rack. This bike rack can fit 2 inch receiver or 1.25 inch receiver and it is able to carry 3 bikes, making it an excellent sports car bike rack or for those who are traveling in teams of three.
The hitch extension is recommended for vehicles with tailgate spare tire and in addition, it comes with a DIY instructional manual. To get rid of all of your hassle with maintaining and storing bikes while traveling, it is easy to install within a few minutes and in addition, the TYGER 3-Bike Rack uses a tie-down cradle system to keep the bike tied down to the car or vehicle. In addition, the bike rack is compatible with a lot of vehicle types, such as hatchbacks, sedans, SUVs, minivans and even pickup trucks, making it highly adaptable.
The carry arm can take up a variety of frame designs and sizes and along with that, the bound by a no-wobble bolt to keep the rack inside the hitch from moving unnecessarily. It has foldable carry arms when you are going to store it temporarily and it also has a tilt down feature that makes it convenient to access your vehicle. Adding to that, the TYGER Rack has a receiver lock as well as a security strap to keep the bikes in place. This bike rack weighs 19.6 lbs and has overall dimensions of 28 in x 13 in x 3 in and comes with a lifetime warranty.

Best 5-Bike Car Rack

Allen Sports Hitch Mounted 5-Bike Carrier
This bike rack can take 2 inch receiver hitches and it fits 4 to 5 bikes, making it an excellent sports travel car bike rack with a weight capacity of 140 lbs.
The carry arms have a quick set snap action out the box and in addition to that, the tie-down system is dual compound. Its quick set straps help protect your bikes well and keep them secured individually and the cool thing about this bike rack, the Allen Sports 5-Bike rack, is that the bolts have no wobble so your rack stays steady and in place inside of the hitch. Also among its features, lift gate access is made easier because of its internal tilt-away release.
The Allen Sports Carrier weighs 29.4 lbs and it has overall dimensions of 32 in x 14 in x 3 in and has a powder coated rack finish. In addition, it comes with a dual compound spine shield. There is also an integrated locking loop and it is under a lifetime warranty.

Best 2-Bike Car Rack

Saris 805 Bones 2-Bike Trunk Rack
When it comes to the best car bike rack that can accommodate up to 2 bikes, the Saris 805 Bones 2-Bike Trunk Rack is our best bet. This awesome rack is built with eco-friendly materials that are 100% recyclable and resistant to rust so you can expect to use it for a lifetime and even at the harshest of weather such as rain or storm. There is an option to choose from a variety of designs; it comes in either grey coat finish or black coat finish.
The design is arc based and can fit over a majority of spoiler designs, which is helpful for those who have vehicles with spoilers. In addition, the Saris 805 Rack can house two separate bikes on its two levels as the straps provide ratcheting and anti-wobble for the bikes. One more thing that this car bike rack has in advantage is that it does not require twisting or overhead lifting.
An awesome car bike rack like this is a good buy – it accommodates sedans, minivans, cars with spoilers, etc. The arms and legs of the car bike rack are made with injection mold and are built to last. The Saris 805 2-Bike Rack weighs 10.05 lbs and has overall dimensions of 8 in x 16 in x 22 in and it is made in the USA. All in all, this car rack for bikes is suitable for small bike owners and it has a limited lifetime warranty, making it worth buying.

Best 3-Bike Car Rack

Allen Sports Trunk Mount 3-Bike Carrier
For the best car bike rack that can accommodate up to 3 bikes all at once, we picked the Allen Sports Trunk Mount 3-Bike Carrier. It comes fully assembled when it arrives so you get frustration free and hassle free storage of your bike(s).
In addition to that, it can fit a variety of vehicle types, including SUVs, minivans, hatchbacks and sedans. The tie-down system helps to secure the bicycles installed and are all individually designed. The Allen Sports 3-Bike Carrier comes in a packaging that is certified frustration-free to add to its user friendly features.
One more plus factor that you need to consider is that the lower frame also helps keep a good distance between the bikes and the vehicle because it is padded. To add to its security, it comes with side straps to enhance the stability of the car bike rack and its carry arms are quite narrow but can fit a lot of bike sizes and styles out there.
The Allen Sports Carrier weight capacity of 100 lbs and also, it weighs 9.5 lbs with overall dimensions of 28 in x 13 in 4.2 in. It is under a lifetime warranty, much like other Allen Sports bike racks.

Best Trunk Mounted Car Bike Rack

Hollywood Racks Trunk Mounted Bike Rack
The Hollywood Racks Trunk Mounted Bike Rack is our best bet for a car bike rack that is truck mounted. It easily protects both your bikes and your vehicles, especially for those who are frustrated about owning a car bike rack that might accidentally damage the vehicle.
One cool thing about the Hollywood Rack is that it comes pre-assembled to give you less frustration so you can easily and it also has anti-wobble bike cradles to help them stay in place during any trip. It is able to carry up to 2 bikes and in addition, it can fit even cars with spoilers.
True to its purpose, the car bike rack is fully adjustable and the hubs are highly adjustable as well as the quick release levers. Weighing in at 7 lbs, the Hollywood Racks Bike Rack coated in black finish and it measures 9 in x 21 in x 26 in dimensions.

Car Bike Rack that Attaches to the Spare Tire

Allen Sports 3-Bike Spare Tire Rack
The Allen Sports 3-Bike Spare Tire Rack is indeed a well-reserved car bike rack that attaches to the spare tire. It has an easy setup for the spare tire installation and in addition, it can take up to 3 bikes and is neatly designed for spare tire mounting.
It uses a tie-down system that is patented and works well for bike protection. The Allen Sports Spare Tire Bike Rack weighs 10 lbs, has overall dimensions of 9 in x 6 in x 3 in and is made in the USA.

Best Aluminum Car Bike Rack

Allen Sports Aluminum Folding 2-Bike Rack
If you want a super light weight car bike rack then you should look no further than the Allen Sports Aluminum Folding 2-Bike Rack. It has a padded lower frame that puts distance between the bikes and the vehicle. This car bike rack can fit 2 bikes and is easily folded to a size smaller than a regular shoe box.
Being made from super sturdy 6061 T6 aluminum that weighs 3.5 lbs, making it super light weight, the Allen Sports Aluminum has a max weight capacity of 70 lbs and it also has a quick unfold mechanism. Helping to keep the bike safe during trips, its tie-down helps secure the bikes individually and is a dual compound design.
This conveniently cheap and lightweight car bike rack has overall dimensions of 4.9 lbs and is made in the USA. It also comes with side straps to keep it stable and in addition, it includes a carry bag. It is fully assembled when it arrives and can fit a variety of vehicle designs and is under a lifetime warranty.

The Competition

Other bike racks that did not make it to our list are the ones that do not have enough features to make them able to protect the bike(s) that are mounted and secured to them.

Other Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the importance of having a bike rack for your vehicle?
A: According to this article from Cycling is Good for You , any bike rack is important for its accessibility and easy storage and makes it easy to carry for travel. Generally, bike racks are also essential in public places.

Q: How does one choose an effective bike rack?
A: According to this article from Outdoor Gear Lab , consider the style of bike rack. Roof racks are installed on the roof but roof racks are not recommended for high roof vehicles such as vans and SUV as well as trucks, obviously. The hitch mount racks are for SUVs. You can choose from tray style hitch mount or arm support hitch mount. In addition, there are also trunk mounts. You must consider the compatibility of the frame and make sure it is very secure.